Exmouth

The oldest seaside town in Devon, Exmouth boasts two miles of sandy beach, and is the gateway to the World Heritage Jurassic Coast.

A popular holiday destination since the 18th century, Exmouth truly represents the British seaside at its best with golden beaches for building sandcastles, rock pools to hunt for elusive crabs, and sparkling sea in which to paddle, swim, windsurf, and water ski. Exmouth's unique mix of sheltered estuary and coastal shoreline makes it one of the best places in the country for kite surfing, windsurfing and a wide range of watersports. There's also diving, with a myriad of wrecks to explore in Lyme Bay.

Exmouth is the Western Gateway to the World Heritage Jurassic Coast, a fantastic journey through 185 million years of the Earth's geology that begins here at the five metre futuristic cone of the "geoneedle" at Orcombe Point, unveiled by HRH The Prince of Wales in 2002.

An excellent way to view the vibrant red and burnt orange of the ancient Triassic rock of the Exmouth coastline is by taking a Jurassic Coast trip with Stuart Line Cruises, who also offer bird-watching cruises as the mudflats and grazing marshes of the Exe estuary attract a huge variety of birdlife.

The large, award winning indoor market in the new piazza-style Strand boasts colourful stalls offering everything from fresh produce to lace and jewellery, with plenty of gift ideas. For seafood lovers, there are plenty of restaurants in Exmouth's town centre in which to enjoy fresh fish, or visit one of the cafes lining the seafront for traditional fish & chips! Exmouth’s fantastic multi award winning mussels are served at The Fat Duck and The Ivy restaurants.

Explore the Exe Estuary Trail cycle path, walk part of the South West Coast Path or follow the Blue Plaque Heritage Trail through the town, where splendid Regency architecture sits alongside contemporary café culture. One of Exmouth's most charming buildings is A La Ronde (NT), a unique 16-sided house with exquisite decoration including ornate feather friezes and a beautiful shell encrusted gallery.

Events in Exmouth include the annual Exmouth Festival and the Exmouth Kite Festival. Exmouth is famous for its Christmas and New Year celebrations - there is an annual Christmas Day Swim in the sea, and Exmouth is known as one of the best destinations in the country for New Year fancy dress celebrations!

Click on the link below for the Maer Mobile Challenge, a fun and free interactive nature trail for visitors to Exmouth. All you need is an internet enabled smartphone to interact with the Maer Local Nature Reserve and the wonderful wildlife.